Re: [Gdb] Privileged Instruction Program Interrupt

[Clark L. Coleman]

> When I try to simulate an embedded application program, built for the
> PowerPC, I get a Program Interrupt, Privileged Instruction. The instruction
> that causes the exception is a Move to Machine Status Register (MSR),
> (mtmsr). When I display the MSR, before executing, it is set to 0x2900. This
> value, in the MSR, has the Privilege Level (PL) equal to zero (processor can
> execute both user and supervisor level instructions).
> 
> Could anyone help? Thanks in advance
> 
> Hans

I do not think that GDB can run privileged instructions.  At least,
that is what I experienced when debugging in the DOS/DJGPP
environment, where I had programs that ran in DOS privileged mode but
the GDB process could not step through those instructions.

Perhaps others can explain the details of why this is the case.

Clark Coleman
University of Virginia